Cotton-chopper.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

J. B. WOODS.

COTTON CHOPPER.

AYPLIOATION FILBDQEXEEPT. 9. 1904.

zllforl Lil Patented February 7, 1905.

UNHED STATES ATENT @rrice.

JOHN BELL \VOODS, OF MIN ICOTUX, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,095, dated February '7, 1905.

Application tiled September 9, 1904. Serial No. 223,898.

Be it known that LJouX BnLL 'oonsa citizen of the United States, residing at Mineola. in the county of \YoothState of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-(hoppers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accomparrving drawings.

This invention relates to a cotton-chopper, and particularly to a construction embodying plow-blades in connection with a rotating chopping device operating in a plane at an angle to the direction of travel of the blades.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved construction of the means for mounting and adjusting the plow-blades and for operating the same under tension when in operative position.

A further object of the invention is to improve the details of construction for mounting and operating the chopper-blades and supporting-springs for the rear of the frame carrying said blades.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the chopper with parts broken away; Fig. 2, a detail elevation of the chopper-head; Fig. 3, a plan of one of the plow-l. lades; Fig. 4, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 5, a tetail perspective of a chopper-hoe, and Fig. 6 a detail elevation of the means for mounting the suppO1'tin '-sp1'ings.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates the frame of the machine, which may be of any desired character and provided at its front and rear with cross-bars A, while upon the side bars thereof the usual construction of handles A is n1ount ed. Upon these side bars an axle A is journaled and provided at its opposite ends with supporting-wheels A, secured thereto so as to drive said axle in their rotation. This axle also is provided with a gear-wheel A within the frame which is adapted to mesh with a pinion A, carried by a shaft A, pivotally mounted upon a cross-bar A of the frame and provided at its end between the handles with ahead B. This head is provided with a series of sockets adapted to receive either the chopper-spikes B (shown in Fig. l) or the hoes B (shown in Fig. 5,) as may be found desirable, either of these devices being inserted in a suitable socket within the head and there secured by a set-screw B or other desired means. The spikes and hoes are thus capable of rotative adjustment within their sockets, so as to engage either the broad or narrow side thereof with the earth in the rotation of the head.

At the front of the frame of the machine a threaded shaft C is pivotally mounted, for instance, in bearings carried bvthe under face of the frame, and upon this shaft plowblades U are mounted, these blades having a curved or deflected portion C at their free ends, so as to throw the earth to one side in their travel and also to cut or sever any vines or similar objects ei'igaged therelrv. The supportirig-arm C of this plow-blade is disposed at an acute angle to the plow-blade (f and at its upper end provided with a slot G", adapted to embrace the threaded shaft to which it is secured by lock-nuts disposed upon opposite sides of the arm C and adjusted into contact therewith. By a proper adjustment of these nuts upon the shaft the blades maybe adjusted laterally thereof into any desired position for use. The shaft 0 is also provided with an arm extending upward therefrom and connected by a coil -spring U with a fixed post U, by which the blades are held in contact with the ground under a yielding tension, so as to throw the same below the level of travel of the carrier-wheels A". \Vhen it is desired to support the. blades out of such operative. contact with the earth, the lever C may be engaged with the spring-latch 0 carried by the inner face of one side of the frame, and the blades thus held out of operation.

At the rear of the plow-blades justdescribed supporting-springs l) are attached to the opposite side frame of the machine for thepurpose of supporting the same under a spring tension, the lower ends I) of which have a wiping contact upon the ground, thus performing a crushing or pulverizing function upon the earth discharged from the plows in advance thereof. For the purpose of raising and lowering the depending ends of these springs they are adjustably mounted upon the frame by means of a wedge-block D interposed between the end D of the springs and the frame of the machine and there secured by bolts D", passing through the frame, block, and spring. It will be seen that a shifting movement of the wedge-block will elevate or depress the free end of the spring.

In the operation of the invention for cotton chopping or thinning rice the plows throw the earth to opposite sides of the machine, where it is crushed and pulverized by the supporting-springs carried by the frame and may, if desired, be thrown laterally of the machine by turning either the spikes or hoes carried by the chopper-head so as to perform a shoveling function. These spikes or hoes may be adjusted in any desired manner within the head, as before described, as is found most adaptable for the work to be performed, and the supporting-springs permit the clepression of the rear end of the frame with the chopper, so as to act in a depressed portion of the ground which would not otherwise be reached by the blades. The mounting of the machine also permits the elevation of the rear thereof by the handles, so as to bring the choppers above the level of the ground when a high portion is reached or when it is desired to avoid a stump, stone, or other obstruction.

The means shown for mounting the plowblades under spring tension secure a proper depth of travel thereof under unequal surface conditions, while the adjustment of the blades upon their shaft permits an arrangement thereof suitable for various widths of rows and other conditions in planting.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

1. In a cotton-chopper, a frame, a rotatable shaft mounted within the frame, a plow-blade secured to said shaft to rotate therewith, a lever-arm extended from said shaft, and a tension-spring connected to said arm for normally depressing said blade under tension.

2. In a cotton-chopper, a frame, a rotatable shaft mounted therein, a plurality of plowblades mounted upon said shaft, means for adjusting said blades upon the shaft relative to each other, and a spring connected to said shaft for normally depressing said blades.

3. In a cotton-chopper, a frame, plow-blades mounted at the front thereof, a crushing device at the rear of the frame having wiping contact with the ground upon the moldboard sides of said blades, a rotatable shaft upon which said blades are mounted, and a spring connected to said shaft for normally throwing said blades downward.

4. In a cotton-chop per, a frame, plow-blades mounted at the front thereof, a crushing device at the rear of the frame having wiping contact with the ground upon the moldboard sides of said blades, a rotatable shaft upon which said blades are mounted, a spring connected to said shaft for normally throwing said blades downward, and means for adjust ing said blades laterally upon said shaft relative to the crushing device.

5. In a cotton-chopper, a threaded rotatable shaft carried by the frame thereof, a plowb'lade having an open slotted arm adapted to embrace said shaft, and nuts threaded upon said shaft at opposite sides of said arm for securing it in its lateral adjusted position thereon.

6. In a cotton-chopper, a threaded rotatable shaft carried by the frame thereof, a plowblade having an arm adapted to embrace said shaft, nuts threaded upon said shaft at opposite sides of said arm for securing it in its lateral adjusted position thereon, a vertical lever secured to said shaft, a post secured to said frame, and a tension-spring extending between said lever and post.

7. In a cotton-chopper, a threaded rotatable shaft carried by the frame thereof, a plowblade having an arm adapted to embrace said shaft, nuts threaded upon said shaft at opposite sides of said arm for securing it in its lateral adjusted position thereon, a vertical lever secured to said shaft, a post secured to said frame, a tension-spring extending between said lever and post, and a spring-latch carried by the frame to hold said lever against the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof IaffiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BELL WVOODS.

Witnesses:

A. D. BEAIRD, TAYLOR GREEK. 

